Pest Infestation Solved: Call AMCO Ranger

/in /by

Little makes your skin crawl more than the thought that you have a pest infestation. Maybe it starts with finding tiny little mouse scat in your silverware drawer. Or perhaps you discovered some decking that termites chewed through completely.

Whatever the problem may be, we have your pest infestation solution. Our extensive years of experience and vast knowledge about these pests make us the qualified exterminators you need.

Keep reading to learn about the pests that we deal with and how we will eliminate your pest infestation problem. 

Termites

Termites can live a long time without anyone knowing they’ve infested a building. Drywood termites burrow deep in wooden structures while subterranean termites go underground. Either way, these little buggers can cause some serious damage even before you know they’re there. 

Here are some major warning signs that warrant attention: 

  • Wood that sounds hollow when you tap on it
  • Drooping or discolored drywall
  • Buckling laminate or wooden floorboards
  • Squeaky floorboards
  • Windows or doors that stick
  • Peeling paint with no water damage
  • Pinpoint holes in the drywall
  • Maze-like patterns in floorboards, walls, or furniture
  • Piles of wings that look like fish scales
  • Piles of dry wood termite pellets that look like pepper or salt. 
  • Termites swarming on the property

All of these indicate the not-so-obvious and obvious presence of termites. If you suspect termites, call an exterminator that specializes in residential pest control like Amco Ranger. They will evaluate your property and determine the best course of action. 

Bed Bugs

Bedbugs hide nearly as well as termites. To survive, baby bed bugs need bloodmeal. So you may actually experience bed bug bites before you see the bugs. 

Even then, you may not know you have bedbugs since not all people react to bed bug bites. 

Furthermore, bedbugs can proliferate quickly. They grow by as much as three generations in a year. 

You will not be able to see the juvenile bed bugs, but adult bed bugs are big enough to see with the naked eye.

Fully grown bed bugs are fairly large, the size of an apple seed. They’re wingless, flat, and reddish-brown. They swell up when they’ve finished eating and change to a bright red color. 

Look in the following places for bed bugs: 

  • Bedside tables
  • Loose wallpaper or paneling
  • Headboard
  • Ceiling junctions
  • Wall junctions
  • Creases and crevices in your mattress and along your baseboard
  • Creases in your pillows

Since bedbugs need food, they congregate where humans are. This is why you’re most likely to see them on a mattress or pillow. You also will find their feces as evidence of their presence. 

Amco Ranger knows how to deal with bed bugs so you can sleep soundly again. If you see these symptoms, then contact Amco Ranger. 

Other Services

Though Amco Ranger specializes in termites and bedbugs, they handle all kinds of pests. Here are a few of the services that Amco Ranger offers to its clients. 

Nuisance Wildlife

Wildlife belongs in the wild. So when they show up on your property, they will cause problems. They just don’t know how to respect domestic life. 

We have extensive experience dealing with raccoons, possums, and other wildlife that cause property damage, pose health risks, and create stress. Our techniques will remove the animal and prevent the animal from bothering you again. 

We use humane animal control practices. So if you’re worried that your pest will sustain an injury, rest easy. We know what we’re doing. 

Mole Management

Moles cause damage. Amco Ranger understands how to handle this little destructive creature. We use a variety of techniques. 

Here are the basic steps we take: 

  1. Inspect the area where you suspect a mole infestation
  2. Identify the active tunnels so we can treat them
  3. Treat the area with a proven bait or trap
  4. Visit the area again to monitor progress and prevent further infestations

Moles can completely destroy your lawn if you do not get a handle on them. Amco Ranger has designed a Mole Management Program that brings us back to your home regularly. We will find the moles and eliminate them no matter how many return visits we need to make. 

Lawn Care Services 

Amco Ranger technicians understand the importance of your lawn. Thus we offer second-to-none lawn service. We will control your weeds and fertilize your lawn so you have a beautiful, green yard once again. 

Here is the range of services our lawn care division performs: 

  • Weed control
  • Aeration
  • Dethatch
  • Fertilization
  • Soil Sterilization
  • Seeding

As you can see, Amco Ranger not only eliminates pests, but they take care of your entire property. 

Attic Insulation

Amco Ranger also will take care of your attic if pests have wreaked havoc on it. Pests will damage insulation and create an unsanitary environment in the attic. 

Amco uses InCide Pest Control Insulation. This unique insulation contains sodium polyborate, an effective pesticide.

This ingredient keeps insects at bay and prevents infestations. Insects that ingest even a small amount of InCide will die immediately. Here are the perks of InCide in your attic: 

  • Odorless
  • Reduces your heating and cooling costs
  • Does not itch
  • Flame resistant
  • Protects your home from pests
  • Reduces air infiltration
  • Meets federal standards

Furthermore, InCide comes with a product warranty. So if you’re not happy with it, you’re covered. The active ingredients are safe for pets and humans and will not cause annoying side effects.

It also resists mold and mildew growth. The fire retardant nature of the insulation also slows down a fire should one break out in your home. 

Call Pest Infestation Pros For Help

If you suspect a pest infestation, contact us. As you can see we care deeply about our customers. Amco is a local, family-owned business. 

Since our founding in 1965, we have protected homes against pests and kept families safe. We are committed to green solutions and controlling pests in a responsible way. 

You can trust us to provide you with a safe, sound, and environmentally safe pest management solution. Call us today. 

5 Signs Your New Home Has a Rodent Problem (Plus What to Do About It)

/in /by

If you think you have a rodent problem in your home, you’re far from alone. In fact, an estimated 83% of households have mice allergens in them. 

Mice need to find shelter, especially in the colder months of the year. If your house happens to be the closest and you’re always cooking delicious meals inside, then they might see this as the place to set up camp.

Regardless of the type of rodent, they can cause you lots of problems. Let’s talk about how to determine if you have a rodent problem and what you can do about it.

Signs You Have A Rodent Problem: Droppings

Droppings are the number one tell-all for rodents. Mice or rats, like all animals, leave their droppings behind. They will look like tiny little pellets. Fresh ones will be dark and moist, drying out and lightening over time. This will give you an idea of how long ago they were there.

In a new home, it’s important to check this. They could have been from years ago and the previous owners just never cleaned the spot where you found the droppings. Check any dark, concealed places like under the sink, under the refrigerator, under equipment in the basement, and anywhere else they could be hiding.

Gnawing Marks

Do you leave your butter on the counter? Ever noticed a piece missing from it?

Check wires, food that’s left out, drywall, or anything else that you notice. If you see gnaw marks on the stuff you recently brought into your new home, rather than what was already there, that’s a pretty good indicator that the rodent problem is there.

Watch Your Pets

Dogs, but especially cats, will be very attracted to the scent of these little creatures. If you have pets, watch them. They will likely notice these friends before you will, and even sniff them out. If it’s bad enough that you can smell it, then it’s probably an active infestation.

If your cat is sitting close and staring at a hole in the wall or under the refrigerator for a long period of time, maybe even growling, they may have found a snack!

Scratching Noises

If you’re losing sleep because you’re hearing scratching noises in the night, this is a pretty good sign that you have a rodent problem. We know that can be terrifying in a new home but rest assured, your new house isn’t haunted! Mice and rats both scratch on wood and drywall, and if you’ve heard it, you know it’s definitely audible when there’s no other noise!

Nests

Mice will use any soft material to make a nest for their young. Fabric, paper, plant material, cotton, or whatever they can find. You may find it in an old sleeping bag you have in the basement, or you could find it under a panel in your cabinets.

Finding one doesn’t mean the infestation is currently active unless it is found in equipment that you brought into the new home. If you’re still shopping around for a house, look for all of these signs before you purchase and take it into account. Don’t let it be your only deciding factor, as there are plenty of ways to deal with a rodent problem!

How To Handle A Rodent Problem

If you’re still not 100% certain you have a rodent problem, put some flour or baby powder in the regions where you think they reside. They will leave tracks for you to judge later on. Remember, rats and mice are nocturnal. Before you go to bed, just sprinkling some powder down around the fridge, on the counters, or anywhere else you think is necessary. If you wake up and see tracks, that’s a definite.

Well, in that case, it’s time to solve that problem! While rodents are tiny, they often carry diseases that can be harmful or even lethal to humans. They also pose fire hazards as they are known for chewing through things like wires or gas lines. Here’s what you can do.

Traps

Traps can work if you don’t mind clearing them! If you want to be humane about it, avoid using glue traps. You may not like your furry house guests, but you don’t want them to suffer. Spring traps and traps that allow you to release them elsewhere (alive) are the most humane and often even cheaper!

Rats are even harder to trap than mice, as they are a lot smarter than mice. The traps have to be a lot bigger and more enticing, and they can’t scare them off!

Repellent

Rodent repellent can be effective if you use it in the right places. You can try putting mothballs and rodent control sprays in places you think they reside. However, traps are totally inefficient if you have rodents living in your walls.

Professional Services

Honestly, you can lay down traps all day but mice breed really fast. Often a lot faster than you can clear and reset your traps. While rats are often too smart, many mice are even hesitant to use traps, which eliminates the possibility of catching the more clever ones!

If you want the job done right, you have to call in the experts. If you’re only trapping individual rodents, you’ll never stop the root cause alone. Rodent exterminator services can even close the entryways that rodents use to get into your house in the first place. 

Say Your Goodbyes

Now that you know how to check for and handle a rodent problem, remember that they breed quickly! The sooner you get help, the better.

Keep up to date with our latest pest control news, and find out what to do if your new home has termites!

What to Do When You Find Raccoons in Your Yard

/in /by

The raccoon (affectionately nicknamed the “trash panda”) is native to North America and has been an ever-present critter in our lives. In fact, the first urban sighting was during the 1920s in Cincinnati, OH!

These animals are opportunistic scavengers, which explains why they’ve become such a familiar face in many neighborhoods. They’re also quite intelligent, which makes for some fun observations.

If you have raccoons in your yard, they might be amusing to watch at first. But the truth is, they’re a nuisance and are considered pests!

Are you now wondering what to do if you have raccoons in your yard? Read on to find out more!

Pick Up Fallen Fruits and Nuts

The number one reason why raccoons are attracted to a property is because of food. Remember: they’re opportunistic scavengers, so if they deem your yard as a rich food source, they’ll make themselves right at home.

While your trees and bushes are beautiful and give you delicious fruits and nuts, you’ll want to pick them in time. Otherwise, when they fall onto the ground, not only will this attract raccoons, but also other pests that are attracted to these treats.

So if you notice any of these tasty things on the ground, pick them up straight away.

Clean up Your Yard

While you’re picking up fruits and nuts in your yard, take some time to clean it up as well. When it comes to how to get rid of raccoons in your yard, this is one of the best methods. That’s because you’re getting rid of all possible nest sites, as well as eliminating easy ways for these pests to get onto your roof.

Don’t Leave Pet Food Outside

Does your puppy or kitty have a pet dish outside? It can be nice for them to eat out in the nice sun and gentle breeze. But raccoons will definitely be attracted to this free food!

The good news is, raccoons are nocturnal, so you can leave the dishes out during the day. However, you need to bring these dishes inside before the sun sets. Otherwise, you’ll be leaving out a buffet for these critters!

While we’re on the topic of pet food, you should also consider your bird feeders if you have any. There are some ways to deter raccoons, such as using shepherd’s hooks with pole baffles, or using hanging baffles. You can also bring in your bird feeders after dark.

Secure Your Trash Cans

Raccoons have a strong sense of smell and are smart creatures. They’ll be able to smell all your food scraps sitting in your trash can outside, and you can bet that they’ll get their paws on them if they can!

Trash cans with loose-fitting lids will be easy for these pests to get into. So you’ll want to replace them with heavy lids and/or tie down the lids so they can’t be opened without untying the cord or wire.

Fence off Other Food Sources

If you have a compost pile, garden, and/or pond, these are other places raccoons might try to find food in. To keep them out, fence these areas off.

Raccoons can dig under fences easily, so consider using an electric fence. It might sound cruel, but there are ones made with low enough voltage that all they’ll do is give the animals a small zap, which will discourage them from going any further.

Install Motion-Activated Speakers

Loud noises will scare any animal, and this includes raccoons! So you can get yourself some motion-activated speakers to place in your yard so when they come skulking about, they’ll be surprised with a loud noise from your speakers, such as a raccoon distress call or a dog barking.

If you get frequent raccoon visitors, then these speakers might annoy you and/or your neighbors. In that case, you might want to consider getting a speaker that emits low or high frequency noises that humans can’t hear. You’ll enjoy peace and quiet while the raccoons are deterred by the unpleasant sounds.

Get Help From a Pest Control Company

If you’ve tried all the above methods and raccoons are still calling your house their home, then it’s time to bring out the big guns.

A pest control company can come remove raccoons from your property in a safe manner. This will eliminate the need for you to try and remove them yourself.

On that note, you should never try and remove raccoons from your property on your own since they may have rabies. If you get scratched or bitten by these animals, there’s a chance you might get rabies as well. Not to mention, these wounds can be painful, and dealing with wild animals can be scary!

What’s even better about using pest control services is these experts won’t just remove raccoons from your property. They’ll also check it out and create a tailored plan so you can keep raccoons away.

Prevention is a key part of pest control, yet many fail to keep up with this action. When you have the help of pest control pros, they can remove raccoons and keep them away too!

We’ll Take Care of Raccoons in Your Yard

Raccoons in your yard might be fun at first. But you’ll soon realize that they’re an annoying pest that you need to get rid of.

So if you suspect there are some trash pandas on your property, or if you’ve actually spotted one (or a few), then you need the touch of a pest control company such as Amco Ranger. Not only can our expert team get rid of raccoons, but we can also put some effective prevention techniques into use to keep your home safe and sound.

If you’re thinking, “oh no, there’s a raccoon in my yard,” you need to act fast. Get in touch with us now to get a free quote and to schedule an inspection. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!